Soft matter materials applied to drug delivery systems, food supplements and cosmetic science

Anna Rita Bilia, Francesca Maestrelli and Maria Camilla Bergonzi

6 ECTS: 32 hours of lectures and 24 hours of laboratory training

Aims:

The course will focus on the basic principles of the pre-formulation and application of soft matter materials to develop drug delivery systems and delivery systems to administrate food supplements and cosmetic products.  It will underline on the modern approaches to formulate vesicles, nanoparticles, micelles, semi-solid formulations, microemulsions and nanoemulsions, and appropriate analytical techniques in order to fully characterize the formulations. 

Lectures:

Classification of soft matter materials for delivery systems. Definition of vesicles, nanoparticles, micelles, semi-solid formulations, microemulsions and nanoemulsions. Encapsulation efficiency, morphology, particle size, zeta potential, stability studies, release studies, permeation across biological membranes, rheology. Pharmaceutical application, formulations for food supplements and  cosmetic science. Routes of administrations and interaction with biological systems. Active and passive targeting of drug delivery systems. Safety and efficacy.

Laboratory practice:

Design and development of formulations based on soft matter materials applied to drug delivery systems, food supplements and cosmetic science

Characterization of formulations in terms of drug entrapment, chemical stability and release (HPLC), morphology (Cryo-EM,  TEM), particle size, zeta-potential and physical stability (DLS, ELS), release and permeation (HPLC, PAMPA, Franz diffusion cells). Rheological properties.